PBS has rejected allegations of imbalance and lack of impartiality levelled against it by the Nationalist Party, saying it will "defend itself fully" in court after the PN filed a constitutional case against the public broadcaster and the Broadcasting Authority.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, PBS referred to the constitutional case filed by the PN earlier in the day, saying it rejected the allegations made against it.

The PN filed constitutional proceedings against PBS and the Broadcasting Authority, alleging an imbalance and lack of impartiality in the public broadcaster's news coverage.

Responding, PBS said that the figures on which the PN based its case had themselves been provided by PBS in Parliament "with full transparency."

It said the figures showed that the absolute majority of interventions by government members in news broadcasts were connected to the exercise of their ministerial functions, including announcements of policies, services, schemes and projects directly affecting the public, rather than partisan activities.

During the same period, PBS news broadcast 66 interventions by Nationalist Party representatives, including from press conferences and activities organised by the party itself, compared with just two interventions from Labour Party political activities, the broadcaster said.

"A public service broadcaster has a duty to inform the public about what the government of the country is doing: this is public service, not partiality," PBS said.

The broadcaster said that balance in news coverage could not be measured solely by counting the number of interventions.

It said the Opposition's positions, criticism and proposals are regularly reported in news stories, while PBS current affairs and discussion programmes give equal space to the government and the Opposition.

PBS added that the Broadcasting Authority itself had recognised that numerical statistics alone could not determine whether coverage was balanced.

The broadcaster said it operates within a regulatory framework and under the continuous supervision of the Broadcasting Authority, before which anyone who feels aggrieved can lodge a complaint.

PBS said that the Nationalist Party had not filed any complaint with the Broadcasting Authority regarding the matter at the centre of the constitutional case.

As the matter is now before the court, PBS said it would not comment further.

The broadcaster reiterated its "full commitment" to impartiality and to serving the entire public.